Display case



J. WALTERS DISPLAY CASE Jan. 7, 1941.

Filed April 22, 1938 2 Sheehs-Sheet 1 JOHN WA'L TERS INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1941. WALTERS 2,227,854

DISPLAY CASE Filed April 22, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (lo/Mr 1441471795 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My present invention relates to improvements in display cases with special reference to that class of display, or show cases used by merchants to display food stuffs, such as dressed meat,

poultry, cottage cheese and the like, and I show herewith the best mode I have so far devised to accomplish the objects of my invention, which will be subsequently described, but I do not desire to be limited to the specific structure shown here.

It is well known among meat cutters that in order to protect meats from obnoxious odors and subsequent deterioration, the show case wherein they are displayed must be at all times scrupulously clean, which, ordinarily, is a difficult matter, as particles of meat and bones find their way into the numerous cracks, crevices and corners of the case, if not kept so, and the thorough cleansing of the ordinary display case inside becomes a long and laborious task, usually being but partially done, resulting in the early contamination of fresh meats placed therein.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a display case, the various parts of which,

such as the glass tops, sides and ends and sliding doors may be readily removed for thorough cleansing, and thereby free access is had to all inside corners of the remaining frame, thus facilitating the cleansing process of all joints, cracks and corners, which could not be accomplished satisfactorily with all parts assembled as in the ordinary show case.

My invention resides in a frame of suitable material, consisting of front, back and end base rails, upright and top corner rails so formed as to permit the attachment or removal of all glass by simply lifting them from the frame, which may be readily perceived by reference to the drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which- Fig. 1 is an assembled view in perspective, of the complete case, showing the front and top partially opened, and the left sliding window frame moved to the right, covering the right one.

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross section of Fig. l, with the top and front closed, and taken at any place intermediate of the ends, as at 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal rear view, partly in ele- 5O vation and partly in section on line 3-3, Fig. 2, with a portion of the latter removed to shorten the view, and the sliding doors removed.

Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional vieew on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the frame, with all glass removed.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, of the lower front base rail, together with the base hinge rods of the twofront glass plates, a portion of each of the latter being attached thereto, together with a finish roll at the base of 5 the front glass plate.

. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 3, of the rear top longitudinal rail, with portions of the two glass top plates attached.

Fig. '7 is a vertical cross section on line l5-|5 10 of Fig. 2, showing portions of both top and both end glass plates.

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmental, cross sectional views of the left front corner of the case showing the methodof holding the front wall, or door 5 open or partially open.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of Figs. 8 and 9.

In order to clearly explain the construction and convenience of the invention, attention is called to the various views in the drawings, in 20 which, (Fig. 4), a frame, generally designated as F is constructed, consisting of lower front, lower rear, and upper rear longitudinal rails, l,

2, and 3 respectively, spaced suitable distances apart by top and bottom transverse members 4 25 and 5, and the front and rear corner posts 6 and 1 respectively.

Referring to-Figs. 2 and 3, together with the fragmental sections shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, the glass tops, front and rear, and the ends are shown, 30 assembled in frame F only, and consisting of the upper glass top 9, framed, lower top glass l0, glass end plates H and I2, (four being required) the latter being made alike but designated H for the outside and I2 for the inside; inner front 35 glass plate l4 and outer plate I3, and the rear sliding glass windows l5 and It. A metal strip l1, fashioned as in Fig. 5, is inserted with the bottom of glass l3, Figs. 2, 5 and 9 in the hinge roll l3, toprovide a rounded finish at the base of 40 outer glass plate I3; the upper transverse end members 4 are provided with kerfs 20, shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10, and in which the stop latch freely slides, the hook end engaging a pin 2! when the outer glass I3 is partly opened as in 45 Figs. 1 and 9, the opposite end of latch l9 being attached to the upper end frame of glass IS. The top edge of end glass I2 is maintained in vertical position by means of one or more spring clips 22, shown in Figs. 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10, said glass 50 resting on the bottom transverse spacing rail 5 and held by any suitable device that may be instantly removable for cleansing, as for instance, the metal clip 30, Figs. 3, 8 and 9. The glass plates II and I2 are spaced apart at top, sides and bottom by preferably wood separators 3| attached to the corner posts and the upper and lower frame rails, glass ll being held against separators Si by any suitable means as quarter round strips 32, since it is not necessary to remove glass ll.

The hingedly attached upper top and front glass plates 9, l3 and M are attached to their respective frames by cementing, or other suitable means and to the partially circular hinge members 9', l3 and M respectively, the latter two resting in kerfs 28 out into the hinge rolls [8, each of the latter being fashioned with extending lips i8 which, when the glass plates l3 and M are in closed position, prevent their further movement inwardly by resting on the inclined top of front base rail I, Figs. 5 and 9. Longitudinal top rail 3 and the transverse spacingmembers 4 are fashioned with projecting ledges to support the lower, top glass plate III as shown in Figs. 2, 6 and '7.

It will be observed that the tops of front glasses [3 and M are bevelled so that when closed as shown in Fig. 2, they support the front edges of upper glasses 9 and I respectively; this is desirable to prevent breakage of the upper glass plates due to non-support otherwise, intermediate of their ends. Also it will be noted that the spaced arrangement of the glass plates on the top, front and ends provides an air space between them which assists in preventing the collection of moisture on them.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that all of the glass parts may be readily removed and they, as well as the frame may be readily cleansed and re-assembled without recourse to any tools whatever.

The case may be extended downward, or placed on the open top of an existing box containing a refrigerating unit, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1.

Recesses 2'! in Fig. 6 are to receive the frames of the rear doors, or windows and I6.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A display case having a lower longitudinally extending front rail, a lower longitudinally extending rear rail, side frame members connected to said lower front and rear rails and extending upwardly therefrom, an upper longitudinal rail extending between the upper ends of the side frame members, said upper rail having an upwardly open semi-circular kerf extending the full length thereof, and a top panel having a roll edge fitted within the kerf of the upper rail and freely removable therefrom.

JOHN WALTERS. 

